Picture of Noomi on a bench in an outdoor setting, probably on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. She wears a cream suit and has black hair, and rests her face on her chin. She smiles side-on at the camera.

“We can’t win here with someone who looks like her”: Engender’s Noomi Anyanwu on women’s experiences of the Scottish election process

Noomi Anyanwu

August 12, 2025

Our Charity

Our allies at Engender, with whom we work on reproductive rights and more, have launched a new campaign highlighting misogyny in the Scottish political system. As their Development Officer for Equal Representation Noomi Anyanwu points out, the results are shocking.

Being a woman in Scottish politics

The political arena is becoming increasingly hostile, especially for women and marginalised women. Engender’s new report Women’s Political Journey explores the candidate journey—from preparing to stand as a candidate, including all the interview and vetting processes, to being elected and what happens after.

There is still an image of the ideal candidate: white, middle-class, non-disabled, and male. For anyone who falls outside these categories, this means being prepared for additional barriers. Our report shows that over 70% of 159 respondents experienced forms of abuse and online harassment or trolling during their campaign. Only 11% felt “very safe” during their campaign period. A survey respondent told us: “I have been spat on, shouted at, abused and physically shoved countless times.”

Sexist bullying is a persistent problem within some branches and local parties, with findings indicating that disabled and minoritised women may be at increased risk. These experiences can cause women to question their positions and political futures. It is widely recognised that social media presents significant risks for women in politics, with Black and minority ethnic women at greatest risk. Lack of accessibility to networks, cliquish party cultures, and hostile working environments are other reasons why being a woman and a politician in Scotland may be challenging.

The debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament Building. — WIKIPEDIA/CC.

A survey respondent told us: ‘I have been spat on, shouted at, abused and physically shoved countless times’.

The 2026 elections: a chance for change?

The upcoming elections provide an opportunity for parties to implement changes. They can bring about real representation and diversity to ensure democratic participation in Scotland. This starts with local elections as the basis of a candidate’s journey. As such, it is shocking to hear quotes such as the following, about council chambers:

“We often persuade great people to join, guide them through the selection process, and they get elected. But they may eventually fall away because it can be an unpleasant experience or they experience online harassment or in-person bullying and harassment. Council chambers especially can be quite hostile, worse than Holyrood or Westminster, I’d say.”

Complex processes and barriers for those without pre-existing connections or networks are other persistent issues. Clear communication from the party must be ensured outlining any support available to candidates, particularly relating to financial barriers and caring responsibilities. This would allow individuals to make informed candidacy choices.

57% of our survey respondents felt that positive action measures (PAMs) like quotas or all women shortlists are “resented” by some party members, who feel they are unfair or unnecessary. White men especially refuse to make space for other groups if it means sharing their privilege. Others reported only tokenistic acceptance of PAMs, reducing the ultimate impact of such measures.

Very few parties are consistently collecting equalities monitoring information on prospective candidates. Such measuring is vital when it comes to ensuring candidate diversity and proportionate representation of Scotland’s communities.

How you can help

To support the campaign, you can sign up to Engender’s newsletter, in which you will receive updates about all things equal representation and more. Engender is also welcoming new members. To do either or both, you can sign up on our website or directly at Membership | Engender.

Engender is an intersectional feminist organisation that work to transform women’s lives in Scotland for the better. With expertise in consulting on equal representation, we work to implement measures across political parties, governments, and other stakeholders, to ensure all women feel supported and are represented fully in the political space.

Read Engender’s new report in full

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